George Bush’s theme was “Compassionate Conservatism”; raised $36 million in the first half of 1999, prompting moderate many Republicans hopefuls to withdraw.

John McCain was running as crusading insurgent; campaign finance reform and honesty.

In Summer 1999 Pat Buchanan published a book where he agreed with some of Hitler’s policies, prompting McCain to attack his position and suggest that Buchanan leave the Republican party; he did and pursed instead the Reform Party Presidential nomination; Newsweek poll Summer 1999; Bush 46%, Gore 38%, and Buchanan 8%.

George Bush, John McCain, Alan Keyes, Steve Forbes, Gary Bauer, Orrin Hatch only Republicans remaining at the commencement of the primaries.

Bush won the Iowa caucus with 41%; afterwards, Orrin Hatch withdrew.

February 1, McCain won the New Hampshire primary, 49%–30% over Bush.

The South Carolina Primary benefited Bush since it was the first major closed primary in 2000 and McCain was popular among independents.

Accusation of mudslinging and dirty tricks (push polling) that implied that McCain’s adopted Bangladeshi-born daughter was an African-American child he fathered out of wedlock.

February 24, McCain criticized Bush for accepting the endorsement of Bob Jones University despite its policy banning interracial dating.

February 28, McCain also referred to Rev. Jerry Falwell and televangelist Pat Robertson as “agents of intolerance”

McCain won Michigan, Arizona on February 22; Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts on Super Tuesday, March 7, but withdrew from the campaign afterward.

March 10, Alan Keyes received 21% in Utah

Bush won the rest of the primaries and clinched the nomination on March 14

Democratic Party:

Vice President Al Gore was the front runner, former Senator Bill Bradley (New Jersey) founding member of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council was Gore main challenger.

The Natural Law Party, Arlington, Virginia, August 31-September 2, 2000

Convention Turning Points:

Republican Nation Convention:

George W. Bush chose former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney (Wyoming) as his running mate, although Cheney was heading his Vice Presidential search committee.

Cheney who also was residing in Texas for ten years had to change back his voter registration to his home state of Wyoming because electors could not cast votes for two candidates from their home state, the election would have resulted in a split party President and Vice President.

The nominees were critical of the Clinton-Gore Administration, and their handling of the budget surplus, the convention made it clear that the election would be a referendum on the Clinton administration

Broke the tradition of “roll call” in one night, instead it was divided, over several nights to give momentum and support for Bush, Cheney’s state of Wyoming was the last state on the roll call.

Democratic National Convention:

Gore was the only candidate placed on the ballot.

Gore chose as his running mate Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, a centrist.

Lieberman was nominated unanimously.

Lieberman was the first Jewish American nominated on a major party ticket.

“Super-rallies” (large rallies in sports arenas with a celebrity master of ceremonies).

Debates:

General Election

October 17, 2000, Presidential Debate in St. Louis

October 11, 2000, Presidential Debate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

October 3, 2000, Presidential Debate in Boston

October 5, 2000, Vice-Presidential Debate in Danville, Kentucky

Turning Points (General Election):

Bush led in the polls at the start of the general election and had more money for the campaign than Gore, after the Democratic convention Gore held the lead until October and the Presidential debates; Bush regained the lead but it narrowed towards the last week of the campaign where it was dead heat between the two candidates.

At the start of the campaign and during the Republican Nation Convention, Bill Clinton’s behavior as President was a main issue of the campaign, both prompting talking point for Republican nominee George W. Bush. However, in August, Democratic nominee Al Gore to distance himself from Clinton, and a major Bush stated in an interview that Gore would not be like Clinton, and Clinton was a non-issue in the campaign.

Differences in personality; Bush’s gaffes, regular-guy behavior on the campaign in interactions with press allowed his managers to sell Bush as down-to-earth, which worked well with voters in person and on TV. In contrast, Gore always seemed stiff and strained when interacting.

The differences between the personality of the two candidates were even sharper during the presidential debates, Gore’s answers on policy were sharp and knowledgeable, however, he appeared as a “smarty pants”; Bush though less precise, he appeared laid-back and more relaxed, which resonated with the viewers.

In early November, just days before the election, police documents were leaked revealing that George W. Bush had been arrested for drunk driving in Kennebunkport, Maine in the mid-1970s. These revelations hurt Bush at the polls and may have cost him a popular majority. Karl Rove, his chief political advisor, believes the news disillusioned millions of evangelical voters on whom Bush was counting.

Republican: George W. Bush: “I Won’t Back Down” (Tom Petty) (Threatened to sue Bush if he did not stop using the song. Petty then performed the song at Al Gore’s home minutes after he conceded the election.), “We the People” (Billy Ray Cyrus), “Right Now” (Van Halen)

Republican Party: At the close of the campaign, the Republican Leadership Council ran pro-Nader ads to split the “liberal” vote in a few battleground states

Money Spent (Each Campaign/Party/Overall):

Defining Quotation (Winning Candidate):

“Our current president embodied the potential of a generation — so many talents, so much charm, such great skill. But in the end, to what end? So much promise to no great purpose.” George W. Bush, Address Accepting the Presidential Nomination at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia
August 3, 2000

“If Al Gore has differences with the president, he ought to say loud and clear what they are. I don’t think President Clinton is an issue as we go forward. There’s no question the president embarrassed the nation. Everybody knows that…Americans want to be assured that the next administration will bring honor and dignity to the White House. Are they going to hold Al Gore responsible for missed opportunities? I mean, either you’re part of an administration or you’re not part of an administration is how I view it. I think he needs to stand up and say if he thought the president were wrong on policy and issues, he ought to say where.” George W. Bush, Associated Press Interview, August 11, 2000

“I don’t think our troops ought to be used for what’s called nation-building” George W. Bush, Second Presidential Debate

“The President of the United States is the President of every single American, of every race, and every background.” George W. Bush, December 13, 2000

Defining Quotation (Losing Candidate):

Not so long ago, a balanced budget seemed impossible. Now our budget surpluses make it possible to give a full range of targeted tax cuts to working families…. But let me say it plainly: I will not go along with a huge tax cut for the wealthy at the expense of everyone else and wreck our good economy in the process. Al Gore, Address Accepting the Presidential Nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, August 17, 2000

Toobin, Jeffrey. Too Close To Call: The Thirty-Six-Day Battle to Decide the 2000 Election. New York: Random House, 2001.

Elections Issues:

Florida Electoral Vote Controversy:

Election relatively boring until Election day “Gush and Bore.”

The dispute over Florida’s electoral votes lasted 36 days.

On election night Gore was leading in the popular vote by a half a million, however, the electoral votes were even closer, with neither candidate receiving a majority of 270 in the Electoral College. The election depended on Florida’s 25 electoral votes which would have taken either candidate beyond the 270 Electoral College vote threshold.

The numbers fluctuated all evening and into the early night. Voter exit polls indicated a lead for Gore, and many TV news sources called the election for Gore based on early returns, however, the count shifted in Bush’s favor, prompting Gore to concede by phone to Bush, but when Bush’s lead narrowed, Gore withdrew his concession.

The Florida vote was close enough to trigger the law for an automatic statewide recount, which gave Bush the state by less than 300 votes.

“butterfly ballots”: The Gore campaign discovered that there had been balloting errors in the three critical counties in the state and demanded a hand recount. Bush campaign opposed the recount.

The Battle of the Ballots: A month ensued of disagreements about recounting the votes; filled with press conferences, lawsuits, court hearings, and demonstrations.

Gore argued that in four counties, Broward, Miami Dade, Palm Beach, and Volusia there were errors in the punch ballots caused by faulty voting machines, and that there thousands of legitimate votes that were discarded as a result of the machine’s error and if those votes were counted it would alter the election’s outcome.

The controversial votes were in counties where Gore had been leading; Katherine Harris, a Bush supporter, campaign worker and Florida Secretary of State refused to authorize the recount or extend the deadline to report the vote count beyond November 14; Gore appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.

The Florida Supreme Court unanimously sided with Gore; requiring the recount to continue and extending the deadline to November 26

Two of the counties commenced their recounts, but in Miami-Dade halted the recounts after pressure from “militant Republican demonstrators” just resubmitted their originals count claiming otherwise they would miss the deadline, and Palm Beach County missed the recount deadline.

On November 26, Katherine Harris and state canvassing board certified Bush the winner of the states electoral votes, by 537 votes over Gore

Gore and the Democrats contested the results in Florida’s Supreme Court who voted in four to three in Gore’s favor and ordered that the over 70,000 uncounted ballots in the 67 counties be reviewed in a hand count.

Republicans immediately appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court claiming the recount violated Bush the 14th amendment’s equal protection of the laws.

December 7, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to halt the recount, held a hearing and heard arguments from both sides counsel.

On December 12 the Supreme Court issued their final decision in Bush vs. Gore, in a 5-4 ruling they halted the recount, on grounds that the there was no uniform standard to determine what was the intention of the voters in question and the recount was unconstitutional. Additionally, recounts could not be completed by the December 12 “safe harbor” deadline and prior to the December 18 Electoral College vote, and therefore the certified vote would be upheld.

Lasting Legacy of Campaign:

The first time an election was decided by the Supreme Court

Closest election since 1876

The second election after 1888, where the electoral vote allowed a candidate to win the election, despite the losing candidate has won the popular vote.

CHRONOLOGY

May 27, 1997: The Supreme Court rules Paula Jones could continue to pursue her sexual lawsuit against Clinton, even though he is a sitting president. (“In a decision affecting both the scope of presidential power and the immediate future of the Clinton presidency, the Supreme Court rules that Paula Jones can pursue her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton, even while he is in office.”)

August 5, 1997: Clinton signs a law that would balance the budget by 2002. (“President Clinton signs legislation providing for a balanced budget by 2002, ending years of partisan wrangling between Clinton and Republican leaders.”)

October 3, 1997: Attorney General Janet Reno announces to Congress in a letter that the Justice Department had concluded that the Clinton reelection campaign did not violate campaign finance laws in the 1996 campaign. (“Attorney General Janet Reno, in a letter to Congress, announces that the Justice Department’s investigation into allegations that the Clinton administration violated campaign finance laws, especially in its efforts to finance the 1996 presidential campaign, has uncovered no major violations.”)

January 20, 1998: News sources break a major story that the President had a “sexual relationship” with Monica Lewinsky a former White House intern. (“News breaks that President Clinton may have had a sexual relationship with a former White House intern named Monica Lewinsky. Clinton, adamantly denying the allegations, states, ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.'”)

August 7, 1998: (“Terrorists bomb American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 224 people, including 20 Americans. United States intelligence believes that Osama bin Laden, a Saudi exile and alleged terrorist leader, is behind the attacks.”)

August 20, 1998: In retaliation, President Clinton orders the military to commence air strikes at terrorist targets in Afghanistan and Sudan. (“The U.S. military, on orders from President Clinton, launches reprisal strikes on “terrorist-related facilities” in Afghanistan, bin Laden’s country of residence, and Sudan. The attacks on Sudan, however, come under particular scrutiny, as a number of international observers and members of the Sudanese government contend that the United States destroyed a civilian pharmaceutical facility, and not a chemical weapons plant, as the Clinton administration reported.”)

September 11, 1998: The Starr Report is released by the Office of the Independent Counsel with Kenneth Starr’s findings on the Clinton-Lewinsky affair. (“The Office of the Independent Counsel releases its report on the Clinton-Lewinsky affair, commonly known as the Starr Report. Two days earlier, Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr tells the House that he has uncovered information that may be grounds for impeachment.”)

December 16, 1998: “President Clinton orders a three-day bombing attack against Iraq after Saddam Hussein refuses to cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors.”

December 19, 1998: “The House of Representatives votes to impeach President Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.”

February 12, 1999: “The Senate acquits President Clinton on both articles of impeachment, rejecting one article and splitting evenly on the second.”

Summer 1999: Newsweek poll, Bush 46%, Gore 38%, and Buchanan 8%

June 12, 1999: “Gov. George W. Bush of Texas ends his shadow Presidential campaign and flies to Iowa to announce his intention to run for President. His announcement effectively inaugurated what is shaping up to be the earliest and quickest Presidential nomination processes in recent American history. He left Austin, Tex., for his first explicit campaign trip; three days in Iowa and New Hampshire.” (NYT) George Bush raises $36 million, prompts moderate many Republicans hopefuls to withdraw.

June 16, 1999: In Carthage, Tennessee Vice President Al Gore announces his intent to run for the Presidency, pledging to “bring a new wave of fundamental change to this nation.”

September 6, 1999: The 3rd Constitution Party National Convention convenes in the Regal Riverfront Hotel in St. Louis Missouri and nominates Howard Phillips for President and Joe Sobran for Vice President. Formerly the U.S. Taxpayers Party; the party changes their name at the convention.

September 26, 1999: Pat Buchanan publishes a book “A Republic, Not an Empire” where he agrees with some of Hitler’s policies and argues that Germany was not a threat to the United States in 1940 and that the Western World, in fact, commenced the war in an attempt to help Poland. Buchanan defends his book claims it is not pro-Hitler.

September 27, 1999: Senator John McCain of Arizona declares his candidacy for the Republican Presidential nomination in Nashua, New Hampshire. John McCain runs as a crusading insurgent based on campaign finance reform and honesty.

February 18, 2000: McCain and Bush campaign biographies air in 30-minute video programs.

February 2000: Prior to South Carolina primary, Bush attacks McCain and implies that McCain’s adopted Bangladeshi-born daughter is an African-American child he fathered out of wedlock.

February 19, 2000: South Carolina Republican primary (party-run) South Carolina (primary) Republican George W. Bush 53% John McCain 42% Alan Keyes 5% South Carolina Primary benefits Bush, it is the first major closed primary in 2000 and McCain popular among independents.

February 24, 2000: McCain criticizes Bush for accepting the endorsement of Bob Jones University despite its policy banning interracial dating.

February 28, 2000: McCain refers to Rev. Jerry Falwell and televangelist Pat Robertson as “agents of intolerance.” (Senator John McCain of Arizona delivers a harsh attack on the ”self-appointed leaders” of the religious right, depicting them as intolerant empire builders who ”have turned good causes into businesses” while trying to exclude all but ”card-carrying Republicans” from the party. Mr. McCain singled out for criticism two of the Christian right’s best-known leaders, Pat Robertson, the founder of the Christian Coalition, and the Rev. Jerry Falwell, the founder of the Moral Majority.) (NYT)

July 31-August 3, 2000: Republican National Convention convenes at First Union Center; Philadelphia and nominates on the 1st ballot George W. Bush (Texas) for President and Richard B. Cheney (Wyoming) for Vice President. The convention makes it clear that the election would be a referendum on the Clinton administration. George W. Bush chooses former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney (Wyoming) as his running mate, although Cheney was heading his Vice Presidential search committee. Broke the tradition of “roll call” in one night, instead, it is divided over several nights to give momentum and support for Bush. Cheney’s state of Wyoming was the last state on the roll call.

August 3, 2000: George W. Bush accepts the Presidential Nomination at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.

August 2000: Democratic nominee Al Gore distances himself from Clinton.

August 11, 2000: Bush states in an Associated Press interview that Gore would not be like Clinton, and Clinton is a non-issue in the campaign.

August 14-17, 2000: Democratic National Convention convenes in the Staples Center, Los Angeles. Terry McAuliffe (New York) serves as chairman. The convention nominates by acclamation Albert A. Gore, Jr. (Tennessee) for President and Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut) for Vice President. Gore is the only candidate placed on the ballot. Gore chooses as his running mate Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, a centrist. Lieberman is nominated unanimously. Lieberman is the first Jewish American nominated on a major party ticket.

August 19, 2000: Reform Party Convention (Mangia Faction) nominates John Hagelin for President.

August 31-September 2, 2000: The Natural Law Party Convention convenes in Hotel Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Virginia and nominates John Hagelin Iowa for President and Nat Goldhaber Calfornia for Vice-President.

Bush leads in the polls at the start of the general election and has more money for the campaign than Gore.

October 3, 2000: First Presidential Debate in Boston: The differences between the personalities of the two candidates are even sharper during the debates. Gore’s answers on policy are sharp and knowledgeable; however, he appears as a “smarty pants.” Bush though less precise, he appears laid-back and more relaxed which resonated with the viewers.

October 5, 2000: Vice-Presidential Debate in Danville, Kentucky.

October 11, 2000: Second Presidential Debate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

October 17, 2000: Third Presidential Debate in St. Louis.

Bush regains the lead in the polls.

November 2000: Dead heat between the two candidates in the polls

November 3, 2000: Police documents are leaked revealing that George W. Bush has been arrested for drunk driving in 1976 in Kennebunkport, Maine. Bush admits to the 1976 drunk driving charges at a press conference ”I’m not proud of that, I’ve oftentimes said that years ago I made some mistakes. I drank too much, and I did on that night. I regret that it happened, but it did. I’ve learned my lesson.” (NYT)

These revelations hurt Bush at the polls and may have cost him a popular majority. Karl Rove, his chief political advisor, believes the news disillusioned millions of evangelical voters on whom Bush was counting on to vote for him.

November 7, 2000: Election Day; the numbers fluctuate all evening and into the early night. Voter exit polls indicate a lead for Gore, and many TV news sources call the election for Gore based on early returns.

November 7, 2000, 9:30 pm: Florida looks more uncertain as the vote are counted, with more votes going to Bush.

November 7, 2000, 10 pm: News outlets retract from their Florida projection for Gore; becomes too close to call. The election depends on Florida’s 25 electoral votes, which would have taken either candidate beyond the 270 Electoral College vote threshold.

November 8, 2000: 12:09 am. EST: Gore leads in the popular vote by a half a million, however, the electoral votes are even closer, with neither candidate receiving a majority of 270 in the Electoral College. The Electoral College vote stands at Bush 246, Gore 241, Undecided 51.

November 8, 2000, 2:17 am.: News outlets shift and call both Florida and a few minutes later the election for Bush. The Electoral count shifts in Bush’s favor, Electoral Vote Count: Bush 271; Gore 248; Undecided 19; Not Allocated 0.

November 8, 2000, 2:30 am Gore concedes the election by phone to Bush.

November 8, 2000, 3:00 am: Gore goes from his Nashville hotel to address his supporters at Memorial Plaza and give a concession speech.

November 8, 2000, 3:15 am: Bush’s lead in Florida narrows, there is now only 1000 votes that separate the two candidates in Florida, prompts Gore to return to his hotel.

November 8, 2000, 3:30 am: Gore returns to his hotel without addressing his supporters and calls back Bush and withdraws his concession.

November 8, 2000, 3:57 and 4:15 am: New outlets retract that Bush has won Florida and the election, Florida becomes undecided.

November 8, 2000 AM: The final margin in Florida is 1,784 votes; Bush leads Gore 2,909,135 (48.8%) to 2,907,351 (48.8%) others 139,616 votes (2.4%); The Florida vote is close enough to trigger the law for an automatic statewide recount, which gives Bush the state by less than 300 votes.

The Battle of the Ballots: A month ensued of disagreements about recounting the votes; filled with press conferences, lawsuits, court hearings, and demonstrations.

November 9, 2000: Gore argues that in four counties, Broward, Miami Dade, Palm Beach, and Volusia there were errors in the punch ballots caused by faulty voting machines, and that there thousands of legitimate votes that were discarded as a result of the machine’s error and if those votes were counted it would alter the election’s outcome. (“butterfly ballots”) The Gore campaign demands a hand recount; the Bush campaign opposes the recount. The controversial votes were in counties where Gore leading.

November 10, 2000: New Mexico is retracted from Gore, and Oregon goes to Gore.

November 11, 2000: “Bush campaign seeks a federal injunction to stop the ballot recount Gore requested in the Florida counties “because of alleged equal protection and other constitutional violations.”

November 12, 2000: Palm Beach County announces it is extending the hand recount countywide. Florida’s Volusia County begins the hand counting of ballots.

November 13, 2000: 9:00 am: Katherine Harris, a Bush supporter, campaign worker and Florida Secretary of State refuses to authorize the recount or extend the deadline to report the vote count beyond

November 13, 2000: U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks rejects Bush’s request to bar the hand recount in certain Florida counties.

November 14, 2000 Evening: “Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris announces that Bush leads Gore by 300 votes based on returns submitted by all 67 counties.”

November 15, 2000: Florida Attorney General Katherine Harris files a suit to the Florida Supreme requesting that they counties be required to cease their hand recounts, the Bush Campaign joins in the suit. Gore appeals to the Florida Supreme Court; Gore campaign threatens to request full state recount if the four requested counties not be allowed to continue with their hand recount. Florida Supreme Court unanimously sides with Gore. Bush refuses both Gore request to a face to face meeting and a hand recount of all Florida’s ballots.

Gore and the Democrats contest the results in Florida’s Supreme Court, who vote in four to three in Gore’s favor and order that the over 70,000 uncounted ballots in the 67 counties be reviewed in a hand count.

November 15, 2000, Evening: Secretary of State Harris announces she will not consider further returns from counties that are recounting their ballots (passed the original deadline?).

November 16, 2000: “Gore campaign files an emergency motion in Leon County state court challenging the certification of the results of the Florida presidential election. Florida Supreme Court rules that Palm Beach County can proceed with a manual recount of ballots.” Palm Beach begins recount almost momentarily after the decision.

November 17, 2000, Midnight: Deadline for overseas absentee ballots to be received.

November 17, 2000: “Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis upholds Florida Secretary of State Kathrine Harris’ decision to reject late vote tallies resulting from manual recounts.” “Florida Supreme Court bars Harris from certifying the state’s presidential winner “until further order of this court” and set a Monday hearing on the recount dispute.” “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit denies a Bush team request to stop manual recounts on constitutional grounds.”

November 18, 2000: “Bush’s lead over Gore in Florida triples to 930 votes after overseas absentee ballots are included.”

November 21, 2000: “The Florida Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, rules that that manual recounts may continue and that the totals must be included in the final results.” Court decides the recount can continue and they extend the deadline to November 26, 2000, or early Nov. 27.”

November 22, 2000: “Bush files a petition for certiorari in United States Supreme Court, asking for a review of Florida Supreme Court ruling.” “Judge Jorge Labarga rules that so-called “dimpled chads” cannot be summarily excluded from the Palm Beach manual recount.” Miami-Dade halts the recounts after pressure from “militant Republican demonstrators” and just resubmits their originals counts claiming that otherwise, they would miss the deadline.

November 24, 2000: “The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments in an appeal from George W. Bush on Florida Supreme Court’s November 21 ruling that selective manual recounts must be included in the state’s final presidential tally. The hearing set for December 1.”

November 25, 2000: “Bush drops his lawsuit to force Florida counties to reconsider overseas military ballots that were rejected for technical reasons.”

November 26, 2000: Palm Beach County misses the recount deadline, Secretary of State Katherine Harris declines the county’s request to extend the deadline, 1000 votes are not recounted. Katherine Harris and state canvassing board certified Bush the winner of the states electoral votes, by 537 votes over Gore. “Governor Jeb Bush signs the Certificate of Ascertainment designating 25 Florida electors pledged to George W. Bush and transmits the document to the National Archives as required by Title 3, U.S. Code, Section 6.”

November 29, 2000: “Deadline for briefs to be filed before the U.S. Supreme Court on Bush appeal of Florida Supreme Court’s ruling selective manual recounts.”

November 30, 2000: “Deadline for replies to be filed before the U.S. Supreme Court on Bush appeal of Florida Supreme Court’s ruling on selective manual recounts.” “Democrats file papers in the Florida Supreme Court asking the Democratic justices to order an immediate hand recount of some 14,000 disputed ballots in two heavily Democratic Florida counties.”

Republicans immediately appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court claiming the recount violated Bush the 14th amendment’s equal protection of the laws.

December 8, 2000: “The Florida Supreme Court, in a 4-3 split decision, reverses lower court rejection of Gore contest, ordering statewide manual recounts of undervotes.” “Leon County Circuit Court Judges Terry Lewis and Nikki Clark refuse to throw out any of the 25,000 absentee ballots challenged by the Gore camp in Martin and Seminole counties.” “Bush seeks stays before the Florida Supreme Court, the 11th Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court and additionally petitions the U.S. Supreme Court for certiorari.”

December 9, 2000: “Florida begins a statewide manual recount of the undervote ballots.” “Florida Supreme Court denies Bush’s application for a stay.” “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta similarly denies Bush’s emergency motion to stop the recount, but orders Florida officials not to change his previously certified 537-vote lead.” The Supreme Court votes 5-4 to halt the recount, held hearing and heard arguments from both sides counsel

December 12, 2000, 12:10 pm: the Supreme Court issues their final decision in Bush vs. Gore, in a 7-2 ruling they halt the recount, on grounds that the there was no uniform standard to determine what was the intention of the voters in question and the recount was unconstitutional. Additionally, recounts could not be completed by the December 12 “safe harbor” deadline and prior to the December 18 Electoral College vote, and therefore the certified vote would be upheld.

Election 2016

About the Editor

Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS is a journalist, librarian, editor, & historian. She has a BA in History & Art History, and a Masters in Library and Information Studies both from McGill University, and has done graduate work in Jewish history at Concordia University as part of the MA in Judaic Studies. She wrote regularly about politics, news, education, and Judaism for Examiner.com until the publication closed in July 2016. She is the editor of History Musings... History, News & Politics, which covers the Presidency, Congress, and history news. She has previously covered the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Presidential campaigns & 2010 and 2014 midterm elections. She was also the former Editor/Features Editor for the History News Network (HNN), and had been working for HNN from 2004-2010.... READ MORE

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ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… December 19, 1998, Bill Clinton becomes only the second president in American history to be impeached Bonnie K. Goodman Dec 28 By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS Source: Washington Examiner On this day in history December 19, 1998, the […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald Ford Sworn in as president after Richard Nixon resigns By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald R. Ford is sworn in as president after Richard Nixon […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 8, 1968, Republican Party nominates Richard Nixon for President By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 8, 1968, The Republican Party nominates Richard M. Nixon for President at their convention in Miami Beach, Florida, and […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 8, 1974, Richard Nixon announces he will resign from the presidency over impending Watergate impeachment By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 8, 1974, the 37th President Richard Nixon in a televised address […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 7, 1912, Teddy Roosevelt nominated for a third term as president by the Bull Moose Party By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 7, 1912, the Progressive Party nominates former President Theodore Roosevelt for president, the […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act into law By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 6, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, the law would prevent the […]

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY HISTORY, NEWS & POLITICS HISTORY & POLITICAL HEADLINES OTD in History… August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan fires striking air traffic controllers By Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS On this day in history August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan begins firingthe 11,359 air-traffic controllers who ignored his order to return to […]